Under recent federal legislation, the New Freedom and the Elderly and Disabled Program are combined into a single Section 5310 Program.

The Section 5310 Program is intended to enhance mobility for seniors and persons with disabilities. It provides funds for transportation projects and/or programs that serve the special needs of transit-dependent populations beyond traditional public transportation services and complementary paratransit services under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Eligibility

At least 55% of program funds must be used on capital projects that are:

Public transportation projects planned, designed, and carried out to meet the special needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities when existing public transportation is insufficient, inappropriate, or unavailable.

The remaining 45% may be used for:

Public transportation projects that exceed requirements of the ADA;

Public transportation projects that improve access to fixed-route service and decrease reliance by individuals with disabilities on complementary paratransit;

Alternatives to public transportation that assist seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Solicitation

On Tuesday, May 31, 2016, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced the availability of approximately $10 million in funding through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (Section 5310). The solicitation closed on July 1, 2016. New York State DOT and NYMTC are working closely to identify selected applicants.

Selection

The previous selection of proposed projects was announced in April 2015. A rating and ranking committee comprised of NYMTC's members selected the projects to be funded as part of the state-wide solicitation, and action was taken at the July 30, 2015 PFAC meeting to accept the recommendations and amend the selected projects into the Federal Fiscal Years 2014-2018 TIP.

Funding

This program provides formula funding to states for the purpose of assisting private nonprofit groups in meeting the transportation needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities when the transportation service provided is unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate to meeting these needs. Funds are apportioned based on each state’s share of population for these groups of people.

Other Provisions

Local share may be derived from other federal (non-DOT) transportation sources or the Federal Lands Highways Program under 23 U.S.C. 204.

Permits designated recipients and states to carry out competitive process to select subrecipients.

Recipients must certify that projects selected are included in a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan. The plan must undergo a development and approval process that includes seniors and people with disabilities, transportation providers, among others, and is coordinated to the maximum extent possible with transportation services assisted by other federal departments and agencies.

Permits acquisition of public transportation services as a capital expense.

Up to 10% of program funds can be used to administer the program, to plan, and to provide technical assistance.

Title VI Notice to the Public: The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) hereby gives public notice that it is the policy of the Council to assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Title VI requires, and it is our policy, that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which NYMTC receives federal financial assistance.
Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI has a right to file a formal complaint. Any such complaint must be filed in writing or in person with NYMTC’s Title VI Officer within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of the alleged discriminatory act or upon notice of the discriminatory act.

Title VI discrimination complaint forms may be obtained from the NYMTC website: www.nymtc.org or by calling 212‐383‐7200. If information is needed in another language,
contact: 212‐383‐7200 and Email: NYMTC-Web@dot.ny.gov .